The ‘Knee-Jerk’ Repetition

Is this something you do? You’re playing along, and then, oops, a mistake. Immediately you jump back to a point just before the breakdown and come at it again. Darn, same mistake. You do it again. And again…

Sound familiar? Most of us have been there.

The knee-jerk reflex to immediately repeat a passage in the hope that it will somehow be right the next time is often an expression of denial rather than an acknowledgement of truth.

I have witnessed this reaction on countless occasions. The good news is, there is a better way.

Next time, stop. Come to a complete stop. Relax. Breathe. Now recall your thinking just before the breakdown.

Were you mentally engaged? Were you breathing, imaging, and counting? Chances are that you were playing beyond your ability to think. Once you can get your mind around the passage you stand a chance of directing you hands effectively.

Those of you now working seriously with my Kreutzer course will be acquiring just such skills to deal creatively and effectively with technical challenges.

All the best,
Clayton Haslop

P.S. I always have a glass of water close by when I practice – ok, sometimes it’s a little organic cabernet. Point is, taking a little nip gives me the time to relax and activate my grey cells. Come let ”Kreutzer for Violin Mastery, Vol. 1” switch your grey cells on ‘big time’.